An Idea for the Vacants « Baltimore Slumlord Watch.

via An Idea for the Vacants « Baltimore Slumlord Watch.

Not quite sure if this is abandoned, but this once-grand home in Overbrook Farms was submitted by a local who observed the “scaffolding” and otherwise decaying nature of the facade.

By Eugenia C. Garvin

Mayor Nutter recently announced a crackdown on neglected properties, noting the economic and environmental consequences of blight. But new research suggests that such properties can also affect the health of a neighborhood’s residents.

The study published this week focused on more than 4,000 vacant city lots that have been cleaned up and planted with grass and trees under the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Vacant Land Stabilization Program. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found there were fewer gun crimes in neighborhoods where lots had been “cleaned and greened.” Some residents also reported experiencing less stress and exercising more.

The idea that cleaning and greening vacant lots improves health makes sense to me as a physician. Exercise is important for cardiovascular health and weight management. But people may not exercise in neighborhoods where they don’t feel safe. And abandoned, overgrown, trashy lots are magnets for crime.

Besides encouraging exercise, greener surroundings can reduce stress and mental fatigue. Green space may also serve as a common meeting place for neighbors, building social ties that are also important for health.

I recently interviewed some West Philadelphia residents about the impact of vacant property in their neighborhoods. Those living near blighted properties talked about drug-dealing, prostitution, and other illegal activity happening on and around those properties. Many described seeing used needles and condoms in places where children might play. Vacant lots also encourage illegal dumping and attract raccoons, opossums, mice, and other animals.

Beyond the physical health implications, all of this is toxic to residents’ mental health. The people I talked to said the vacant property in their neighborhood made them feel scared, sad, and angry. “It makes you question where you call home,” one said. “It’s a downer.” Feelings like these lead to chronic stress, which can contribute to heart disease and other illnesses.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s greening program was previously shown to increase the value of nearby property. That it also appears to improve residents’ health and safety makes greening an even more attractive means of dealing with vacant land. In fact, other cities are already looking to Philadelphia as a model for addressing such properties.

The Nutter administration, which is also working to revamp the management of city-owned vacant properties, should be applauded for its efforts to aggressively and creatively deal with a problem that has plagued the city for decades. And going forward, health and safety should be part of its rationale. Managing vacant land is not only an economic development priority, but also a strategy for making Philadelphians safer and healthier.

Dr. Eugenia C. Garvin is a physician and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation clinical scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. She can be reached at garvin@upenn.edu.

Cleaner, greener and healthier | Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/18/2011.

Do you know of a building or site in the Philadelphia region threatened by development or neglect? Every year, the Preservation Alliance compiles its Endangered Properties List from nominations submitted by concerned citizens like you. Released in December, the list draws attention to these irreplaceable historic resources and can help build public support for preservation solutions. Nominations are accepted through October 14 and can be submitted online here. For more information, contact ben@preservationalliance.com

Read more here:

WANTED: Endangered Properties | PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia’s Future.

Just stumbled on this site.  We applaud the efforts of the residents of W. Rockland Street and wish them every success.  This is a post from earlier this summer.

BREAKING NEWS: The blighted houses at 4817 and 4815 Greene Street at the corner of W Rockland will be torn down effective immediately! « W Rockland Street.

The following content is taken verbatim from the City of Philadelphia’s website and it provides not-very-clear instructions on how to buy surplus property from the City.

There is a pdf document that has (as of July 27, 2011) 252 pages of properties that are allegedly available to purchase.  The actual process to purchase any of these properties, is not clear, but we do know some of the process, for those brave enough to venture into an exercise that can often prove frustrating.  Contact us for info.

The properties can be found at the following site: http://www.phila.gov/pdfs/propertyinventory.pdf

Disclaimer

Additional Terms of Use:

PLEASE READ THE PHILA.GOV TERMS OF USE AT http://www.phila.gov/tos/index.html AND THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL TERMS OF USE WHICH ARE SPECIFIC TO THE SURPLUS PROPERTY LISTING SITE (THE PHILA.GOV AND SURPLUS PROPERTY LISTING SITE TERMS OF USE ARE COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO HEREIN AS “TERMS OF USE”). IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF USE DO NOT ACCESS THIS SITE. THE TERMS OF USE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY THE CITY AT ITS SOLE DISCRETION AT ANY TIME. USE OF THIS SITE AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF

SUCH CHANGES CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE CHANGES. PLEASE CONSULT THE TERMS OF USE REGULARLY.

The information provided on this site is compiled from a variety of sources, including sources beyond the control of the City, and is subject to change without notice from the City. The City reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify or remove properties from this site at any time and for any reason or for no reason.

The City of Philadelphia makes every effort to provide the most accurate property information available on this site. Please notify the respective department, Department of Public Property at publicproperty@phila.gov; Redevelopment Authority at  http://www.phila.gov/rda/expressionOfInterest.html or the Phildelphia Housing Development Corporation at 215-448-3000 with any inaccuracies in the information provided.

The property information provided on this site is for informational and convenience purposes only.  The information  is not intended to indicate the quality of property or priority of interest in any property; you are advised not to rely on any surplus property listing for this purpose.

Commercial use of the information provided on this site is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of the City of Philadelphia. To the extent you use, apply, or implement this information in your own information system or other setting, or otherwise for your own purposes, you do so at your own risk.

Disclaimer:

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE IS PROVIDED ON  AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. THE CITY MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE QUALITY, CONTENT, ACCURACY, SUFFICIENCY, VERACITY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS SITE OR THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY OF THE PROPERTIES LISTED ON THIS SITE.

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IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CITY, OR ITS AGENCIES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE OR ANY INFORMATION DISPLAYED ON THE SITE.

Philly Property Owner Search.